New Hong Kong police chief to increase security work despite US sanctions

2/4/2025 18:06

Hong Kong's new police commissioner played down the impact of recent U.S. sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, while pledging to do more to safeguard national security in the financial hub.



The U.S. sanctioned six senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials for "transnational repression" and further eroding the autonomy of Hong Kong this week, the first major move by the Trump administration to punish China over its years-long crackdown under sweeping national security laws.



But Hong Kong's newly appointed police chief Joe Chow said the U.S. sanctions were "barbaric" and proved Hong Kong's national security work had been successful and effective.



"This means we should do even more," Chow told reporters.



"This should not be a question of whether I should be worried about being sanctioned, but how to do better and more," he added.



China imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 after mass pro-democracy protests, punishing acts such as subversion with up to life imprisonment. A second set of national security laws known as Article 23 was enacted last year.